ground

(noun) the solid part of the earth's surface. Synonyms: land, dry land, earth, solid ground, terra firma. Examples: "The plane turned away from the sea and moved back over land." "The earth shook for several minutes." "He dropped the logs on the ground."

(noun) a rational motive for a belief or action. Synonyms: reason. Examples: "The reason that war was declared." "The grounds for their declaration."

(noun) the loose soft material that makes up a large part of the land surface. Synonyms: earth. Examples: "They dug into the earth outside the church."

(noun) a relation that provides the foundation for something. Synonyms: footing, basis. Examples: "They were on a friendly footing." "He worked on an interim basis."

(noun) a position to be won or defended in battle (or as if in battle). Examples: "They gained ground step by step." "They fought to regain the lost ground."

(noun) the part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground. Synonyms: background. Examples: "He posed her against a background of rolling hills."

(noun) material in the top layer of the surface of the earth in which plants can grow (especially with reference to its quality or use). Synonyms: land, soil. Examples: "The land had never been plowed." "Good agricultural soil."

(noun) a relatively homogeneous percept extending back of the figure on which attention is focused.

(noun) a connection between an electrical device and a large conducting body, such as the earth (which is taken to be at zero voltage). Synonyms: earth.

(noun) (art) the surface (as a wall or canvas) prepared to take the paint for a painting.

(noun) the first or preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface. Synonyms: flat coat, primer, priming, primer coat, priming coat, undercoat.

(verb) fix firmly and stably. Synonyms: anchor. Examples: "Anchor the lamppost in concrete."

(verb) confine or restrict to the ground. Examples: "After the accident, they grounded the plane and the pilot."

(verb) place or put on the ground.

(verb) instruct someone in the fundamentals of a subject.

(verb) bring to the ground. Synonyms: strand, run aground. Examples: "The storm grounded the ship."

(verb) hit or reach the ground. Synonyms: run aground.

(verb) throw to the ground in order to stop play and avoid being tackled behind the line of scrimmage.

(verb) hit a groundball. Examples: "He grounded to the second baseman."

(verb) hit onto the ground.

(verb) cover with a primer; apply a primer to. Synonyms: prime, undercoat.

(verb) connect to a ground. Examples: "Ground the electrical connections for safety reasons."

(verb) use as a basis for; found on. Synonyms: establish, base, found. Examples: "Base a claim on some observation."

(verb) press or grind with a crushing noise. Synonyms: crunch, cranch, craunch, grind.

(verb) make a grating or grinding sound by rubbing together. Synonyms: grate, grind. Examples: "Grate one's teeth in anger."

(verb) work hard. Synonyms: labor, labour, toil, fag, travail, grind, drudge, dig, moil. Examples: "She was digging away at her math homework." "Lexicographers drudge all day long."

(verb) dance by rotating the pelvis in an erotically suggestive way, often while in contact with one's partner such that the dancers' legs are interlaced. Synonyms: grind.

(verb) reduce to small pieces or particles by pounding or abrading. Synonyms: grind, mash, crunch, bray, comminute. Examples: "Grind the spices in a mortar." "Mash the garlic."

(verb) created by grinding. Synonyms: grind. Examples: "Grind designs into the glass bowl."

(verb) shape or form by grinding. Synonyms: grind. Examples: "Grind lenses for glasses and cameras."